Egypt Sentences Muslim Brotherhood Leader To Death

An Egyptian court has sentenced Muhammad Badie, the leader of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, and 13 other senior members of the group to death for inciting chaos and violence.

A judge made the announcement during a televised court session on April 11. The court also sentenced U.S-Egyptian citizen Muhammad Soltan to life in jail for supporting the group and transmitting false news.

The sentences can be appealed before Egypt's highest civilian court in a process that could take years to reach a final verdict.

The men were among thousands detained after the ousting of Islamist President Muhammad Morsi in 2013.

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who as army chief toppled Morsi following mass street protests, describes the Brotherhood as a major security threat.

The Brotherhood says it is committed to peaceful activism and has nothing to do with recent Islamist militant violence in the country.